Best Cars for Moms
Moms and dads depend on their vehicles to safely accomplish daily tasks. Find out what the best cars for moms have in common and which models to check out.
Read time
9 minutes
Date
02.23.2024
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Now that you’ve welcomed another family member, it’s time to consider your current set of wheels and whether it fits your new lifestyle. The car you may have felt comfortable driving in the past could now be something you’re uncomfortable putting your child into as you drive. Knowing you need another vehicle to suit your new needs is one thing, but finding that car is yet another.
Attempting to research, find, and buy another car while you’re raising children can be stressful at the best of times. Look no further than a FINN car subscription for your next ride. FINN offers flexible terms to fit your lifestyle, no matter how many trips you make to school, practice, or the doctor. FINN’s monthly payment includes practically every car-related expense, and you can easily switch your ride every six to 12 months without penalty.
How to choose a car for moms
Who says minivans are a must for moms? Moms—and parents in general—look for various characteristics in a car best suited to family use. Some of the most common features include:
- Resale value: Buying a car with a high resale value can help protect your investment.
- Luxury: Who says parenthood means sacrificing creature comforts?
- Reliability: Parents depend on their vehicles to support their busy schedules.
- Fuel efficiency: Savings at the pump can significantly benefit many families.
- Cargo capacity: You can never have enough space, especially with multiple car seats.
- Safety: With young lives at stake, no car can be too safe.
- Legroom and seating capacity: Plenty of room to move around can reduce the number of times you hear, “I’m not touching you!”
- Dependability: The best cars for moms come through when you need them most.
- Cost of ownership: Put money toward family vacations, not car repairs.
- Versatility: Tackle whatever lies ahead and confidently take the road less traveled.
Finding a single vehicle that checks these boxes presents a formidable challenge. However, you can use the list of the 10 best cars for moms below to narrow your list and help you align your final choice with your desired features and capabilities. Which of the best cars for moms will you drive next?
10 best cars for moms
The best mom—and dad!—cars come in all shapes and sizes, just like their owners. The following table lists the 10 best cars for moms, but read on to learn more about why these models made the list.
Feature | Model |
Best resale value | Toyota RAV4 |
Luxury pick | Audi Q7 |
Most reliable | Honda CR-V |
Most fuel-efficient | Kia EV6 |
Most cargo capacity | Chevrolet Tahoe |
Superior safety ratings | Subaru Outback |
Most legroom and seating capacity | Hyundai Palisade |
Most dependable | Lexus ES |
Low cost of ownership | Subaru Crosstrek |
Most versatile | Ram 1500 |
Whether you’re looking for the best cars for short people, the best cars for tall people, or the best cars in general, a FINN car subscription can help connect you with your next vehicle. FINN offers flexible terms and the flexibility to choose your next driving experience, whether it’s a Chrysler Pacifica, Mazda CX-5, Toyota Highlander, or Chevrolet Suburban. You can choose from several brands, including Mazda, Acura, Honda, BMW, Volvo, Ford, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and many more.
Toyota RAV4: Best resale value
- Rear legroom: 37.8 inches
- Cargo capacity: 69.8 cubic feet
- Average yearly repair costs: $429
Although the Toyota Tundra and Tacoma tied for Kelley Blue Book’s Best Resale Value Top 10 for 2023, the RAV4 ranks high on the list, especially when considering hybrids. Toyota also won the best brand for resale value, with Lexus also taking the top spot for luxury brands. The 2024 RAV4 offers electrification if you can afford a new car, but you can also find plenty of used RAV4s in used car lots. For reference, the RAV4 nameplate was first introduced in 1994.
Audi Q7: Luxury pick
- Rear legroom: 38.8 inches
- Cargo capacity: 69.6 cubic feet
- Average yearly repair costs: $1,185
Audi produces some of the most powerful yet elegant sedans and SUVs. The Q7, alongside the Q8 platform, is the largest that Audi offers. This German luxury brand outfits the Q7 luxury SUV with plenty of creature comforts, from heated and cooled leather seating to advanced infotainment touchscreens and capabilities.
Honda CR-V: Most reliable
- Rear legroom: 41 inches
- Cargo capacity: 76.5 cubic feet
- Average yearly repair costs: $407
According to RepairPal, Honda ranks among the most reliable brands. First out of 32 brands total, Honda costs $428 on average to repair annually, with a 10% chance that repairs are severe. However, most Hondas only visit the shop 0.3 times per year, so parents who don’t want to spend much time or money typically choose a Honda as their primary vehicle. Other family-friendly models include the Honda Accord, Honda Odyssey, and Honda Pilot.
Kia EV6: Most fuel-efficient
- Rear legroom: 39 inches
- Cargo capacity: 50.2 cubic feet
- Average yearly repair costs: Unknown
FuelEconomy.gov reports that the 2024 Kia EV6 achieves 117 combined miles-per-gallon equivalent, or MPGe. This electrified platform gets an average of 136 miles to the charge in the city and 100 on the highway. Annual fuel costs are listed at less than $700, a stark difference from even the most fuel-efficient gas powerplant out there.
Chevrolet Tahoe: Most cargo capacity
- Rear legroom: 34.9 inches
- Cargo capacity: 122.9 cubic feet
- Average yearly repair costs: $744
It’s no secret the Chevy Tahoe is a big behemoth, but it’s a boon for any parent with plenty of passengers and cargo to tote around. The Tahoe provides up to 122.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the front seats. That’s enough room in this three-row SUV to fit enough supplies for a family camping trip or an extended stay at Grandma’s house.
Subaru Outback: Superior safety ratings
- Rear legroom: 39.5 inches
- Cargo capacity: 75.6 cubic feet
- Average yearly repair costs: $607
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) have nothing but good things to say about the Subaru Outback. The 2024 model received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and has no pending recalls or investigations as of the time of writing this piece. The IIHS also awarded the 2024 Outback “Good” ratings in all categories except for the “Moderate overlap front: updated test,” where it scored “Acceptable.” The Outback was also a Top Safety Pick+ in 2023 and offers several advanced safety features, including adaptive cruise control.
Hyundai Palisade: Most legroom and seating capacity
- Rear legroom: 31.4 inches
- Cargo capacity: 86.4 cubic feet
- Average yearly repair costs: Unknown
The 2024 Hyundai Palisade seats up to eight passengers and offers up to 44.1 inches of legroom in the first row. Second-row legroom nears 42.4 inches, while third-row legroom is 31.4 inches. Passenger volume exceeds 155 cubic feet, which is respectable given the Palisade is a full-size SUV. Alternatively, the Kia Telluride offers similar legroom in second-row seats, making it a viable family vehicle as well.
Lexus ES: Most dependable
- Rear legroom: 39.2 inches
- Cargo capacity: 13.9 cubic feet
- Average yearly repair costs: $468
The Lexus ES was the highest-ranked midsize premium car among J.D. Power's many dependability awards. The Lexus ES is a stately sedan poised and ready to cruise city streets easily. It also features a 3.5-liter V6 powertrain for those who like to have their style and power, too.
Subaru Crosstrek: Low cost of ownership
- Rear legroom: 36.5 inches
- Cargo capacity: 54.9 cubic feet
- Average yearly repair costs: $492
With a five-year cost of ownership of $42,613, the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek ranks first among subcompact SUVs and crossovers. Other competitors in the segment include the Kia Seltos, Honda HR-V, and the Volkswagen Taos. Average yearly repair costs are nearly $500 for this compact SUV, but that’s well below average across all cars.
Ram 1500: Most versatile
- Rear legroom: 45.2 inches
- Cargo capacity: 68.5 cubic feet
- Average yearly repair costs: $691
If you’re looking for an all-wheel-drive vehicle that’s as ready to take on dirt roads and your next adventure as it is making the most of grocery trips, the Ram 1500 has no match. Capable of towing up to 12,750 pounds when properly equipped, the family-friendly 2024 Ram 1500 offers enough configurations and chassis options to keep anyone busy for a few hours. Mix and match features to build a ride ready for your next greatest adventure.
Best mom cars FAQs
For many parents, buying a car means brushing up on how to calculate car loan interest rates and negotiate a better deal. While you’re refreshing your memory on how to calculate APR on a car loan, check out the following questions to learn more about the best cars for moms.
The best car for a pregnant woman is one she can confidently drive. She may also prefer high safety ratings, creature comforts, and cargo capacity.
The best family car is one that fits your lifestyle. If you’re looking for a vehicle that you can easily drive around larger cities with cramped lanes, the Lexus ES makes a great family car. For those with a more active lifestyle in more open settings, the Ram 1500 could be the right truck for the job.
The coolest mom cars have fantastic features, powerful engines, or other characteristics that evoke a sense of wonder or awe. For many parents, the coolest mom cars are the ones that get them home safely while enduring as much as possible.
The top safety features to look for in a mom car can depend mainly on driving style. However, the more advanced driver aids available, the better, regardless if you’re talking about cars or vehicles in general.
Final thoughts
Choosing the best mom car looks different from one parent to the next. Moms and dads may prioritize several features, from safety and fuel efficiency ratings to resale value, cost of ownership, and versatility. The list of the best mom cars above is neither exhaustive nor restrictive but can help jumpstart your thinking to find the best car for your circumstances. The decision ultimately lies with you.
If you’re not ready to commit to a specific car fully, FINN car subscriptions offer the flexibility of test-driving various models without the costs of ownership that come with it. Subscribe to a FINN car and your monthly subscription fee includes registration, depreciation, insurance, and maintenance. That leaves you with covering gas and the occasional car wash to keep your car budget intact. Check out a FINN car subscription to see how you can add some welcome variety to your stressful yet rewarding routine.